Cold air containment system in a data centre

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for containing cold air in a corridor created on the side of a computer cabinet, comprising a base mountable on the computer cabinet, and a panel fastened to the base and moveable with respect to the base, the panel being suitable for separating the cold air in the corridor below the panel from the hot air above the panel.

PRIOR FOREIGN APPLICATION

This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 10306067.9, filed Sep. 30, 2010, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

One efficient way to cool IT resources is to contain the air in respective corridors. There are two different ways to do the containment: hot corridor containment and cold corridor containment.

Cold corridor containment is more efficient when the cooling is a traditional cooling (air coming from the raised floor with CRACS), which represents a large majority of the cooling systems used today in data centres.

European Application No. EP 2059105 A1, by Gallmann, discloses a constellation of racks that form an aisle between them and all cooling air supply sides of all racks face the aisle. The aisle is covered on top and at both ends against leaking air.

United States Patent Publication No. 2010/0061057 A1, by Dersch et al., discloses an air containment system with a plurality of flexible panel assemblies configured to be arranged in side-to-side relation to form a ceiling.

United States Patent Publication No. 2010/0188816 A1, by Bean et al., discloses an air containment cooling system for containing and cooling air between two rows of equipment racks including a canopy assembly configured to enclose a hot aisle defined by the rows of equipment racks, and a cooling system embedded within the canopy assembly.

Existing systems are complex and it is desirable to have an improved system for containing air in a cold corridor in a data centre.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a system for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a data centre is provided, the system includes: a base, adapted for being mounted on top of a first cabinet for receiving at least one computer system; and a panel, which is attached to the base, wherein the panel can move with respective to the base between a closed position and a deployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position.

In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided which includes a cabinet for receiving at least one computer system, and a system (for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a data centre) mounted on top of the cabinet. The cabinet at least partially forms the corridor, and the system includes: a base, adapted for being mounted on top of the cabinet to receive the at least one computer system; and a panel, which is attached to the base, wherein the panel can move with respect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position. In the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position.

In a further aspect, a method for optimizing configuration of a cold air corridor in a data centre is provided. The data centre includes a plurality of cabinets defining the corridor, and a plurality of systems. The plurality of systems contain cold air flow in the corridor and are mounted on top of respective cabinets of the plurality of cabinets. Each system includes a base, adapted for mounting to the top of a respective cabinet, and a panel attached to the base. The panel reciprocates with respect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position. In the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position. Further, actuating means are provided for changing the panel's position between the closed position and the deployed position, and control means are provided for controlling the actuating means to allow a user to choose which panel of the plurality of panels should be moved. The method includes: selecting a layout of the corridor among a set of possible corridor layouts; selecting a width for the corridor; controlling the plurality of systems using the control means so as to configure the corridor according to the layout and the width; measuring the effects of the corridor configuration on the performance of the cooling system; and determining whether the selected layout and width improves performance of the cooling system.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a data centre comprising a system, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a system where a panel can slide with respective to a base, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A & 3B show another embodiment of a system where the panel can rotate with respect to the base around a horizontal or vertical axis, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a data centre with an arrangement of two cabinets, each with a system mounted on top thereof, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of a system, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of cabinets, some of them having one embodiment of a system mounted thereon, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of two cabinets in connection with which aspects of the present invention can be implemented, comprising:

-   -   a first cabinet (100);     -   a second cabinet (105);     -   a panel (110) on top of the two cabinets; and     -   a base (115) mounted on top of the first cabinet (100).

The panel (110) is attached to the base (115). The panel (110) is further arranged between the two cabinets so as to form a corridor below the panel and between the sides of the cabinets. Such corridor can be used to contain a cold air flow (130) coming from the raised floor (120) with CRACS. The cold air flow can only go into the cabinet to circulate, thus cooling the computer system mounted in the cabinet (100, 105). The air comes out of the cabinet as hot air (140, 145) and goes up. It then circulates (150) towards a cooling system not represented on the picture. The term cabinet will be preferentially used in the present description. However, some references of the prior art uses the term rack or computer rack instead, whereas a rack is used for mounting computer systems inside a cabinet. It is intended to apply the teachings of the present invention to any systems equivalents to a computer cabinet, including a rack.

In an implementation of the present invention, the panel (110) is attached to a base (115), which is itself attached to first cabinet (100). The base can be mounted, fixed, screwed, glued, nailed or soldered on the cabinet or further attached using any other equivalent techniques for attaching the base to the top of the cabinet (100). The panel functions as a blocking member. It can be flat or concave, corrugated or domed. It can have a rectangular shape, square, or other shape.

In FIG. 1, the panel (110) is represented in a deployed position in contact with a vertical surface, the vertical surface being in FIG. 1 the side of the other cabinet (105) facing the cabinet (100) on top of which an implementation of a system, comprising one or more aspects of the present invention is mounted. When the panel is in the deployed position, and when the base is mounted on the first cabinet and the panel is further in contact with a vertical surface, the panel, the first cabinet and the vertical surface can form a corridor where cold air can flow below the panel and into the first cabinet, and the panel can separate the cold air flow from hot air flow above the panel. In the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximately twice the width of the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position. The panel (110) can be put in a closed position, not represented in the figure. In the closed position, the panel (110) would lay on the base, on top of the cabinet (100). In this position, the system formed by the cabinet, the base and the panel (110) does not occupy much more space than the cabinet itself. To that end, a panel with dimensions compliant with standard cabinet positions may be used.

To improve efficiency of air containment in the corridor below the panel, the panel can further comprise, on its side opposite to the side attached to the base, means for fastening 111 such side to a surface. Such means can be fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, screws, rivets, latch or any other device which mechanically joins the panel (110) and the surface together. The means for fastening can also rely on magnetic force to join the side of the panel to the surface, as with a magnetic lock. The panel can further comprise a release mechanism for detaching the fastening means, either by a mechanical action, or by suppressing the aforementioned magnetic force. For example, the fastening means on the panel can be an electromagnet, which can form a magnetic lock with an armature plate attached to the surface when an electric current is supplied to the electromagnet. Suppression of the electric current would cause the magnetic force to stop and the magnetic lock to open. There exist many implementations available for mechanical or magnetic fastening means and releasing means which can be used here. To improve efficiency of the system and minimize leaks, the panel can be adapted to sealably engage the base and/or the surface, so as to create an air-tight corridor. However having an air-tight corridor is not a requirement for the system to greatly improve the cooling of computer cabinets.

The panel can be adapted to be fastened to a vertical surface, such as a wall, a horizontal surface, such as the top of the second cabinet (105), or another panel that would be mounted on the second cabinet (105).

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In this embodiment of the system, the panel can slide with respect to the base. As illustrated, the system comprises a first rail (200) and a second rail (205) parallel to the first rail, and a panel (210) which can slide in the rails (200, 205) following a direction parallel to the rails (220). The system used for sliding racks can be easily adapted to provide for the rails shown in FIG. 2. The rails (200, 205) can be optionally configured so that the panel (110) can slide from the closed position in the opposite direction (225), thus enabling two deployed positions for the panel. Thus the corridor can be formed on either side of the cabinet on which an implementation of the system is mounted. A system with only one rail could be implemented as well.

FIGS. 3A & 3B show another embodiment of a system according to one or more aspects of the present invention, wherein the panel can rotate with respect to the base.

In FIG. 3A, the panel (320) can rotate around a horizontal axis (330) and is pivotally mounted on the base (310, 315). The base can have a rectangular shape, or can have two smaller elements (310, 315) as in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3B, the panel (350) can rotate around a vertical axis (360) and is attached to the base (340, 345) at that point. The base (340, 345) at have the same characteristics as in the description with respect to FIG. 3A. The base can also comprise means for sliding the axis of rotation of the panel in a plane parallel to the base. Sliding the axis makes the axis translate in a linear motion. That would allow the panel to pivot on either side of the base easily.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of two cabinets, each with an implementation of a system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention mounted on top, and comprising:

-   -   a first cabinet (410) with a first implementation of the system         (430) mounted on top of it; and     -   a second cabinet (420) with a second implementation of the         system (440) mounted on top of it.

The panel of the first implementation can be attached to the panel of the second implementation using fastening means 111 as described with respect to FIG. 1. If the panel rotates with respect to the base, as in FIG. 3A or 3B, fastening means 111 on only one side of the panel can suffice to create that configuration (for example an electromagnet and an armature plate). If the panel can slide both ways as in FIG. 2, fastening means 111 on each side of the panel can be required to create the configuration of FIG. 4. For example, the electromagnet on one side can be arranged to face the armature plate on the other side, and vice versa. Thus the panel can be fastened on either side, including to another panel. If the panel can rotate as in FIGS. 3A & 3B, and its axis of rotation can slide with respect to the base, then fastening means on only one side of the panel are sufficient for the panel to be fastened on either side of the cabinet.

FIG. 5 shows a view from above of a top cover of a cabinet according to an embodiment of a system comprising one or more aspects of the present invention:

-   -   the cabinet (510) can receive a computer (520); and     -   the panel (500) can act as the cabinet cover when in the closed         position, and, when in the deployed or open position, can leave         the cabinet open at its top, so as to create another way for the         hot air to come out of the cabinet.

The panel (500) is thus directly mounted on the cabinet, which thus serves as a base. The cabinet can optionally have one or several rails (530) for allowing the panel to slide in any direction parallel to the rail (530). The panel can also be pivotally mounted on the cabinet as described with respect FIGS. 3A & 3B.

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of cabinets having an implementation of a system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, mounted on top. In FIG. 6, the cabinets are aligned to form rows of cabinets. The panels mounted on top of the cabinets can be moved to form a corridor between the two rows. When the panels are in the deployed position, they together form an enclosure which covers most of the corridor thus separating a hot air flow above the enclosure from a cold air flow below the enclosure. Leaks between the two air flows are still possible, but they are minimized by such an enclosure. The cold air flow coming out of the floor below the panel is contained in this corridor and is forced to go through the cabinets so as to cool the computer systems mounted within the cabinets. Each cabinet is, in one embodiment, arranged so that one of its sides, comprising holes for letting air flow, faces the corridor. The width of the cold corridor can thus take values between a very small distance, when the two rows are very close, and up to twice the width of a panel.

As shown in FIG. 1, in another embodiment of a system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, the system further comprises actuating means, possibly integrated to the base as panel actuators 117, for making the panel move between the closed and the deployed or open position. Such actuating means can be commonly found, either to make the panel slide (a mechanism similar to the ones used in CD player can be used) or to make it rotate (using for example a mechanism used to operate automatic doors). The actuating means can be coupled to remotely activated control means, 119, so that a user can create the corridor when and on the side he wants, without requiring physical access to the panel or to the cabinet. It is further possible to enable such controlling means to be selectively activated, for instance by providing a unique code, corresponding to the controlling means to be activated, at the time when the order for activating the controlling means is issued. This enables configuration of cold air corridors in data centres to be done automatically, possibly controlled by a computer system. This way, it is possible to optimize the cooling of the data centre by searching for the optimal configuration of cold air corridors in the data centre. Such optimization can be done using known techniques such genetic algorithms, simulated annealing or others. Optimization can be done on a layout of corridors, just taking advantage of the ability to choose the side on which the panel is deployed, and on the width of the corridors, potentially all different, thus taking advantage of the ability to configure the extent to which a panel is deployed.

In another embodiment of a system comprising one or more aspects of the present invention, the system for containing cold air in a corridor created on the side of a computer cabinet, comprises a base mountable on the computer cabinet, and a panel fastened to the base and moveable with respect to the base, the panel being suitable for separating the cold air in the corridor below the panel from the hot air above the panel.

Those skilled in the art will note from the above description that, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a data centre, the system comprising a base, adapted for being mounted on top of a first cabinet for receiving at least one computer system, a panel which is attached to the base, wherein the panel can move with respect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position.

An advantage of this aspect is that such a system can easily be operated to create a cold air flow corridor when mounted on a cabinet in a data centre. A further advantage is that when the system is not in use, it can be easily and securely stored by being put in the close position, without taking much more room than the cabinet itself.

In a first development of the first aspect, the panel is fastened to the base along an axis around which the panel can rotate.

An advantage is that the fastening means between the panel and the base can be very robust, and very cheap to make, as such means exist today in a great variety.

In a second development of the first aspect, the panel can slide with respect to the base, in a plan parallel to the base.

An advantage is that the corridor can be formed even if there is little room above the cabinet. A further advantage is that it is easy to make the panel slide on either side of the cabinet.

In a third development of the first aspect, the base comprises two rails in which the panel can slide.

An advantage is that this allows use of existing robust rails and sliding mechanisms. Furthermore, it is easy to put an actuator in such system to make the panel slide in one direction or another.

In a fourth development of the first aspect, the panel can be attached to the panel of another system according to one or more aspects of the present invention.

An advantage is that the width of the corridor thus formed can be larger than the length of the panel.

In a fifth development the first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further comprises actuating means for changing the panel's position between the close position and the deployed position.

In a sixth development the first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further comprises means for controlling the actuating means, wherein the means for controlling can be remotely activated.

An advantage is that the corridor for a cold air flow can be formed without having physical access to the panel.

In a seventh development the first aspect, the controlling means can be selectively activated, so as to allow a user to choose which panel among several should be moved.

An advantage is that the formation of cold air flow corridors can be set without entering the data centre. It also allows for automated experiments so as to find the optimal corridor configuration for cooling of a data centre using cold corridors techniques.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a cabinet is provided for receiving at least one computer system comprising a system mounted on or integrated to its top cover, according to one or more aspects of the present invention.

An advantage is that such a cabinet is easier to use than a regular cabinet, on which implementations of the present invention must be attached.

According to a first development of the second aspect, the top cover serves as the panel, so that when the panel is in the deployed position, the cabinet is open at the top, and when the panel is in the closed position, the cabinet is closed at the top.

An advantage is that hot air can get out of the cabinet by the top in addition to getting out by the side of the cabinet. A further advantage is that less material is required to build a cabinet having the capability of forming a corridor on its side, thus lowering the cost of manufacturing such a cabinet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for optimizing a configuration of cold air corridors in a data centre comprising a plurality of systems according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the method comprising: selecting a layout of corridors among a set of possible layouts; selecting a width for each corridor; controlling said systems according to claim 8 in the data centre so as to configure the corridors according to said layout and said width; and measuring the effects of said corridors configuration on the performance of the cooling system; determining whether the selected layout and width improves the performance of the cooling system.

An advantage of this aspect is that performance of the data centre can be further improved very easily and in an automatic manner.

Further advantages of the present invention will become clear to the skilled person upon examination of the drawings and detailed description. It is intended that any additional advantages be incorporated therein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and any form contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a panel assembly sized to facilitate forming and containing cold air flow below the panel assembly in a covered corridor of a data center, the panel assembly being sized to mount on top of a computer cabinet and facilitate forming the covered corridor, the panel assembly comprising: a base sized to mount on top of and reside above the computer cabinet; a panel, which is movably attached to the base, wherein the panel moves with respect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position, and in the closed position, the panel overlies the base and the top of the computer cabinet, and in the deployed position, the panel extends outward from over the computer cabinet, substantially parallel to the top of the computer cabinet, to facilitate forming the covered corridor, and the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the deployed position is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position; and wherein the panel is fastened to the base along an axis around which the panel can rotate.
 2. The apparatus of claims 1, wherein the panel can slide with respect to the base, in a plane parallel to the base, and the base has a length less than a length of the top of the computer cabinet.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base comprises two rails in which the panel can slide.
 4. The apparatus claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a fastening mechanism to attach the panel of another system for containing the cold air flow in the corridor of the data centre.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising actuating means for changing said panel's position between said closed position and said deployed position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for controlling said actuating means, wherein said means for controlling can be remotely activated.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controlling means can be selectively activated, so as to allow a user to choose which panel among several should be moved.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a computer cabinet for receiving at least one computer system; and a system comprising: a panel assembly sized to facilitate forming and containing cold air flow below the panel assembly in a covered corridor of a data center, the panel assembly being sized to mount on top of the computer cabinet and facilitate forming the covered corridor, the panel assembly comprising; a base sized to mount on top and reside above the computer cabinet; a panel, which is movably attached to the base, wherein the panel moves with respect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position, and in the closed position, the panel overlies the base and the top of the computer cabinet, and in the deployed position, the panel extends outward from over the computer cabinet, substantially parallel to the top of the computer cabinet, to facilitate forming the covered corridor, and the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the deployed position is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closed position; and wherein the panel is fastened to the base along an axis around which the panel can rotate. 